Gloria Jeans CEO steps down, Hillsong controversy builds
August 7, 2008 by admin
Filed under Press Coverage
Original article: http://www.insideretailing.com.au/articles-page.aspx?articleType=ArticleView&articleId=2491
Ian Martini has stepped down as group CEO at Gloria Jean’s Coffees , reports the Australian Financial Review.
The company said in a statement “after much discussion with the board and for personal reasons, Ian will no longer be continuing as group chief executive”.
The business will be run by a senior management committee in conjunction with the company board represented by John Dwight.
Gloria Jeans has this week been embroiled in controversy over its sponsorship of MercyMinistries – a ministry supported by the Hillsong foundation.
A recent Sydney Morning Herald investigation into Mercy Ministries alleges several young women suffering mental illnesses had been mistreated by the ministry.
Gloria Jean’s Coffees told the SMH it had no plans to change its sponsorship arrangements with Mercy Ministries, despite the allegations.
However several other companies that had been listed as corporate sponsors, such as Bunnings, Rebel Sport and LG have moved to distanced themselves from the ministry, the SMH reports.